Eagle Creek WatershedSummary

Characteristics:

Twelfth largest watershed in West Vancouver

Originates just down Black Mountain from Eagle Lake, flows down forested mountainside, is captured in a culvert to flow under Westport Road, the Upper Levels Highway, and Westport Wynd, emerges to cross under Westport Road, past Daffodil Lane, under Marine Drive and parallel with Eagle Harbour Road before discharging to the sea at Eagle Harbour

Watershed use:

Residential: approximately 140 houses in the watershed

Fish: chum salmon, coho salmon to Marine Drive, cutthroat trout

Concerns:

Classified as threatened by Fisheries and Oceans Canada due to impact of urbanization

Future development in the upper watershed and infill developing and associated problems, including an increase in imperviousness, the loss of wetlands and tributaries, the construction of storm drain network resulting in altered water quality and quantity, encroachment into riparian zones, creek channelization and bank alteration and increased erosion into the creek

The impact of urbanization on the creek such as the channelization through urban areas and the potential for fish barriers from culverts

Water quality altered through proximity to urban development and storm drain discharge, potential sewerage leaks from lift stations and crossing sewer lines, and the potential for contamination from boats in the harbour.

Watershed Projects:

Restoration: turnbuckle-style baffles installed in culvert at mouth of creek to improve fish access to Marine Drive and rock steps at mouth reworked in 2000 and a series of drops and pools created at the mouth to improve access for fish in 1979

Construction of diversion pipes from Eagle Lake to augment low summer flow in 1999, not yet in use